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SUMMARY:Exploiting non-Markovian Bio-Processes within BlenX - Davide Prand
 i\, CoSBi
DTSTART:20090421T130000Z
DTEND:20090421T140000Z
UID:TALK14752@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr Fabien Petitcolas
DESCRIPTION:*Abstract*: The Stochastic Simulation Algorithm (SSA) is a mil
 estone in the realm of stochastic modeling of biological systems\, as it i
 nspires all the current algorithms for stochastic simulation. Essentially\
 , the SSA shows that under certain hypothesis the time to the next occurre
 nce of a biochemical reaction is a random variable following a negative ex
 ponential distribution. Unfortunately\, the hypothesis underlying SSA are 
 difficult to meet\, and modelers have to face the impact of assuming  expo
 nentially distributed reactions besides the prescribed scope of applicabil
 ity. An opportunity of investigation is offered by the use of generally di
 stributed reaction times.\n\nThis talk describes how general distributions
  are introduced into BlenX\, a programming language designed for specifyin
 g biological models. In particular\, the concepts of causality and enablin
 g memory discipline are adapted to BlenX. Then the new extension is used t
 o investigate how the  quantitative behavior of a model is affected by the
  choice of the reaction time distribution. In particular\, a few biologica
 l examples of increasing complexity are presented and the associated simul
 ations discussed.\n\n*Biography*: Short bio \nDavide Prandi obtained his M
 aster's degree in Computer Science from the University of Verona (Italy) a
 nd his PhD in Information and Communication Technology from the University
  of Trento (Italy). He was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of 
 Trento (Italy) and a researcher at the ‘Magna Graecia’ University of C
 atanzaro (Italy). Davide joined CoSBi in April 2008. 
LOCATION:Small public lecture room\, Microsoft Research Ltd\, 7 J J Thomso
 n Avenue (Off Madingley Road)\, Cambridge
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